Foolish Things

I just finished reading Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger.

I was greatly inspired and amazed at this first-hand account of God's power to transform lives.

Jackie Pullinger was twenty years old when God called her to go to Hong Kong. She obeyed, bought a one-way ticked on the cheapest boat she could find, and sailed away...asking God to show her where to get off. God led her to the Walled City of Hong Kong, called "Hak Nam", or "Darkness" in Chinese. She arrived in Hong Kong with HK $100 (which was about $14.50 in English dollars at that time.) This city was truly dark, both physically and spiritually. Lawlessness abounded, and policemen hesitated to enter. It was filled with filth, crime, pornography, brothels, and drug dens. In the six acres of land that made up the city there lived 30,000 people stacked in crazy-angled apartment blocks.

Jackie found herself inexpressibly joyful in this city. This was where God had called her! She began living the simple gospel, loving the least of these, which in her case were the innumerable drug addicts, gang members, and prostitutes which filled the city. She spoke to them of the love of Christ, but more than that she lived His love, because so many people that she spoke to had their minds so deadened by drugs that words were useless, and Christ's love had to be shown to them. For years she lived there and poured out her life for these people. While other missionaries came and "shared the gospel" for days, weeks, or months and then headed home, Jackie stayed. The top gang leaders who were watching her guessed that in six months she would be gone with little effort on their part to get rid of her... it wasn't until four years later that they decided perhaps she wanted to stay.

God is mighty, and many began to find new life in Christ. Addicts who had been on drugs for decades came off of them instantly and painlessly---by the power of God. Women who had been prostitutes since they were young girls, either by force or because it was the only way to earn a living and survive, left their trade and found new life and freedom in Jesus. Whole gangs were brought to the God who is Love, and ceased their violence and crime to follow Him.

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This is only a brief overview of this amazing story. You will have to read it for yourself! Our God will use anyone who is willing to forsake all and follow Him. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He is looking for childlike people who will become the foolish ones of this world and trust Him with reckless abandon. He is looking for people who are desire not to save their lives, but to lose their lives for His sake. He is calling to those who are His body, who call themselves by His name, to lay down their lives for the lost and the least. He is calling you.

Go

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(I posted a similar video before. This one has different pictures, but still taken by the same person- Annie Wesche, the Ludy's assistant. The words are the same as the other video- Jackie Pullinger. It is definitely worth hearing again.)

The Sacred Claim

"The principle of the gospel is this: the gospel always brings life to the reciever and death to the giver."

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Also, I have been listening to several podcasts by Jackie Pullinger. They are so good and so challenging. Here is where you can get them:

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=117

Some of my favorites include: Eyes to see, Lord, give my Your heart, Intimacy, and God uses foolish things. I challenge you to listen to them.

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"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." -Matt. 9:37

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and one earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." -Matthew 28:18-20

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